Help me complete my stereo system (Harbeth, ClearAudio Concept).


Hello Everyone,

I would like your help in completing my new 2 channel audio system.  My room is approximately (11ft X 14ft X 9ft ceiling) or about 42 square meters.  

I value good vinyl playback over streaming and CDs and listen mostly to small group jazz.  

I want to stay within a reasonable budget, so I'm focused on entry level components from high quality companies.  To give you an indication, I own a ClearAudio Concept with the Satisfy arm and MM cartridge.  

As far as speakers are concerned, it will be either the Harbeth P3ESR or Compact 7s.  I have auditioned both with expensive Accuphase amps and was blown away by the P3ESR, especially their natural, open sound and ability to fill a decent size room.  C7s struck me as less dynamic ... but let me know if those would be preferable considering my space and listening tastes.  

I am fairly certain that I will be favouring Solid State to drive the little Harbeth, and car analogy, realistically a well-tuned 4 cylinder turbo rather than a V8 with power to spare.  I plan to add a DAC for streaming and radio, more as a convenience than anything else (serious listening is always vinyl).  An onboard phono is preferred but not a deal breaker.  Speakers and stands to be considered separately.

Thanking everyone for their help and comments. 




juleman

Showing 2 responses by larryi

Deja Vu Audio has the full line of Harbeth and they sell ClearAudio turntables.  Where they depart from the advice given above is that they exclusively deal in tube amplifiers.  I have heard all of the Harbeth lineup there, and I like the P3's more than the 7's.  The P3's sound quite good with even lower powered tube gear, so I would not automatically scratch tube gear off the list.  Deja Vu has a Parasound Halo amp in the store to do demonstrations against their various tube amplifier offerings, and that is always an entertaining demonstration (typically, even a cheap tube amp will sound significantly better).  
For tube amps, I recommend looking into integrated amps from Synthesis (Italian).  They make integrated amps with very good DACs and phono stages built into the amp.  I have heard the P3 with their Roma 96 integrated (25 wpc) and this is a very nice combination.  The larger, and more expensive, integrated amps, such as the A40 and A100 should be even better with the P3's.

If you contact Vu, at Deja Vu Audio, he can offer some advice on appropriate tube amps.  He sells Synthesis and Conrad Johnson.